Stackable and nestable cookware having a stable configuration

ABSTRACT

A set of nestable and stackable cookware, for example, a set of pots and pans, is maintained in a stable configuration by stops attached to the outer walls of the cookware. Each stacked and nested item of cookware is supported on the rim of the lower item by two stops attached to its outer wall, on opposite sides of the item. Each stop is shaped and configured to contact the rim of the lower item in the stack at a finite number of points. A first stop contacts the lower rim at two points, and a second stop contacts the rim at one or two points. The points of contact lie in the same plane, which uprightly supports the stacked cookware item on the lower cookware item, without the walls or the base of the stacked cookware item touching the lower item.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/245,814 filed Jan. 11, 2019, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/782,114, filed Dec. 19, 2018,both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject technology relates to household or commercial cookwareitems, for example, pots and pans, which are structured and configuredto stack and nest together. It is desirable for a stack of cookwareitems to be stacked and nested in a stable configuration, so that thestacked and nested items have little or no tendency to rock or shiftwithin the stack when the stack is moved by a user, or when items areadded to the stack. Cookware items may include attached handlesextending from the items, which may impede the ability of these items tostack and nest in a stable configuration. A simple, rugged and low-costdesign is also desirable for cookware items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the subject technology, a set of cookware, forexample a set of pots and pans, consists of individual cookware itemssized in a series of increasing diameters, or having tapering walls, sothey can nest together. At least some of the cookware items are providedwith one or more stops attached to the outside of the items, to supportthe nested items by contacting the lip or rim of the lower items intowhich they are nested.

Preferably, without limitation, a stop for a stacked cookware itemaccording to the subject technology consists of a horizontal barattached to the outer surface of the cookware item. A cookware item mayhave one, two, or more stops attached to its outer surface. To improvethe stability of the stacked configuration, according to an aspect ofthe subject technology, the stop or stops of an item contact the rim orlip of the next lower item in the stack at exactly three or exactly fourcontact points. Preferably, the three or four contact points areco-planar, i.e. are lying in the same plane, so that the upper cookwareitem is supported in a stable configuration on the lower cookware item,with little or no tendency to rock. The number of contact points isdetermined by the configuration of the lower edges of the stops. A stophaving a non-linear lower edge may provide for exactly one or exactlytwo contact points, as described herein. Thus, a cookware item havingtwo stops may have exactly three or exactly four contact points with therim or lip of next lower item (i.e. the item into which it is nested).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of cookware items stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of cookware items stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 3 is a front view of cookware items stacked and nested in a stableconfiguration according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subjecttechnology.

FIG. 4 is a right-side view of cookware items stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of cookware items stacked and nested in a stableconfiguration according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subjecttechnology.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of cookware items stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of cookware items stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of cookware items stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pan configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pan configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 11 is a right-side view of a pan configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a pan configured to be stacked and nested ina stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of a pan configured to be stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a pan configured to be stacked and nested in astable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a pan configured to be stacked and nested ina stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodiment of thesubject technology.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a first pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a first pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 18 is a right-side view of a first pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 19 is a front view of a first pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 20 is a rear view of a first pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a first pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of a first pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a second pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a second pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 25 is a right-side view of a second pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 26 is a front view of a second pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 27 is a rear view of a second pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a second pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 29 is a bottom view of a second pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a third pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a third pot configured to be stackedand nested in a stable configuration according to a non-limitingembodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 32 is a front view of a third pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 33 is a right-side view of a third pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 34 is a plan view of a third pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 35 is a bottom view of a third pot configured to be stacked andnested in a stable configuration according to a non-limiting embodimentof the subject technology.

FIG. 36 is a schematic view of stops attached to the wall of a cookwareitem according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of stops attached to the wall of a cookwareitem according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 38 is a view of the configuration of several different stops for acookware item according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subjecttechnology.

FIG. 39 is a view of the configuration of several different stops for acookware item according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subjecttechnology.

FIG. 40 is a set of dimensioned views of the body of a stop according toa non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology, it should beunderstood that projections as in FIG. 38 or FIG. 39 would be added tothe disclosed body. Dimensions are in mm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a non-limiting aspect of the subject technology, theFigures show views of cookware items and of nested stacks of threecookware items. Each cookware item has a base, and a wall rising fromthe base and integral with the base, which terminates at an integral lipor rim at the top of the item. The items are sized and shaped to stackin a nesting configuration as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-8. Eachitem has an internal diameter, and to enable nesting, the internaldiameter of each item is at least slightly smaller than the item beneathit in the stack. Alternatively, to enable nesting, the walls of theitems taper outward from the base toward the lip or rim. It will beunderstood that a stack of nested cookware items according to thesubject technology could have as few as two items and more than threeitems.

As shown in the non-limiting embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, according to thesubject technology, a nested stack 10 of three cookware items,specifically a top item 11, middle item 12, and bottom item 13 ismaintained in a stable configuration by stops 14 attached to the outersurface of top item 11 and stops 15 attached to middle item 12. Stops 14attached to top item 11 contact the rim 16 of middle item 12. Stops 15attached to middle item 12 contact the rim 17 of bottom item 13. In thisembodiment, items 11, 12 have two attached stops 14, 15, disposed onopposite sides of each item as shown. Preferably, these stop-to-rimcontacts are the only points of contact between the nested items 11, 12,13, i.e., the walls and/or bases of the items are not in contact.

The stops 14, 15 are attached to the exterior of the walls of the items11, 12, 13, by welding for example, or are attached by fasteners 18(only one pair of fasteners is numbered) such as rivets, bolts or screwsthrough small holes formed in the walls for that purpose. Preferably thestops are curved to conform to the curvature, if any, of the walls towhich they are attached. Preferably, for attachment to a cookware itemwith tapering or sloping outer walls, the surface of the stop facing thewall (i.e. the inner surface) is likewise tapered or sloped to conformto the wall. The opposite (i.e. outer) surface of the stop may betapered, sloped, or square, with respect to the side walls of the stop.The stops have a thickness extending outwardly from the exterior walls.The thickness of a stop may be 5 mm, or approximately 5 mm, or in therange of 3 mm to 10 mm, or in the range of approximately 3 mm toapproximately 10 mm. The thickness of a stop should be sufficient toenable it to rest on the rim of the lower item in a stack, and it neednot be any thicker. In particular, a stop need not be thick enough, andextend from the exterior wall far enough, to be functional as a handle.The stops are preferably solid and made of a rigid material that isoven-safe, for example, metal, steel, aluminum, titanium, ceramic oroven-safe polymer material. As an alternative to attaching a stop to thewall of a cookware item, the stop may be formed integrally with the wallof the item.

According to an aspect of the subject technology, preferably, the lowersurface of a stop is adapted to contact the rim of the lower item in thestack at a limited number of contact points. For example, in thenon-limiting embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, the lower surface of each stop 14has two nibs or radii 21 at opposite ends of the stop, to contact therim 12 of middle item 16 at exactly two contact points with respect toeach stop. Thus, top item 11 contacts middle item 12 at exactly fourpoints. Similarly, the lower surfaces of stops 15 are shaped to contactthe rim 17 of middle items 13 at two nibs or radii 20 with respect toeach stop, such that middle item 12 contacts bottom item at exactly fourcontact points.

Although the Figures show nested and stacked sets of three cookwareitems, it will be understood that a stacked set of two items, or morethan three items, could be within the scope of the subject technology.

According to another aspect of the subject technology, a single item ofstackable cookware is provided with a stop or stops as described herein,adapted to be stacked in a stable configuration with other cookware asdescribed herein, for example those shown in FIGS. 9-35. As shown inFIGS. 9-35, a single item of cookware 50 according to the subjecttechnology has one or more stops 51 attached to a wall 52 of the item,the wall rising from base 53 to rim 54. In various embodiments, cookware50 may have a straight handle 55 or loop handle 56, or both, attachedbetween a stop, or stops, 51 and rim 54.

Generally, a stop for a stackable and nestable cookware item accordingto the subject technology may be in the form of a rectangular bar orbadge, curved to fit the outer surface of the cookware item, having aninner surface which is entirely in contact with the wall to which it isattached, and having projections or nibs adapted to contact the rim of alower cookware item at a finite number of points, for example, at one,two, three, or more points. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, stop 51has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines exactly twonibs, 102, 103. Stop 51 has left end 100 and a right end 101 spacedapart from left end 100. Nibs 102, 103 disposed and spaced apart on theleft end 100 and the right end 101 respectively. As seen for example inFIG. 3, stop 15 has nibs 20 formed at a right end and left end thereof.Stop 15 directly contacts rim 17 at two points, where nibs 20 directlycontact rim 17. Between the points of direct contact, a gap (unnumbered)where there is no contact between stop 15 and rim 17 is defined betweenstop 15 and rim 17 at the top and bottom of the gap, and nibs 102, 103at the left end and right end of the gap.

As shown in the non-limiting embodiments of FIGS. 38 and 39, exemplaryshapes for the projections or nibs of a stop include a triangular orother polygonal shape which contacts the lower rim at a vertex of thepolygon; or a part of a circle, oval, curve or other rounded shapehaving a radius which contacts the lower rim at a tangent point of theprojection. FIG. 38 shows examples of stops 30 having two projections 31for contacting the lower item at two contact points, while the exemplarystops 32 of FIG. 38 have one projection 33 for contacting the lower itemat one contact point. It will be understood that (unless a claim hereinspecifies otherwise) a stop may be of any shape that does not interferewith the stacking and nesting of the items, and can be stably attachedto the cookware items, and contacts the lower rim at a finite number ofpoints. Preferably the area of the stop-to-rim contact points accordingto the present invention is minimized, i.e. it is not an extended areaalong the entire bottom surface of an attachment to the wall of an item.In the case of a stop having two contact points, the distance betweenthe contact points may be 45 mm, or approximately 45 mm, or 46 mm, orapproximately 46 mm, or 47 mm, or approximately 47 mm or in the range of40 mm to 50 mm. It will be understood that it is within the scope ofsubject technology that a stop may be shaped to contact the lower rim atmore than exactly two points, but in an embodiment having multiple stopssuitably placed on the cookware item, this is not necessary to achievethe desired stability.

To result in a stable stack of cookware items according to the subjecttechnology, it is desirable for the following conditions to be achieved:(1) the stops of a nested cookware item contact the lower item's rim ata finite number of points; (2) the contact points lie in the same plane;(3) the contact points are sufficiently distributed about the perimeterof the rim to support the nested cookware item without a significanttendency to pivot, rock, or shift about the contact points; (4) thenested item and lower item are not contacting at any other points, i.e.the walls, rim, bases, and any attached handles of the items are notcontacting.

FIGS. 36 and 37 show schematic representations of a cookware item 40having a wall 41. First stop 42 and second stop 43 are attached to thewall 41, across a diameter of the wall 41. In the example of FIG. 36,first and second stops 42, 43 have two projections 44 each, whichtogether define four contact points 45. In the example of FIG. 37, firststop 42 has two projections 44 and second stop 43 has one projection 44,which together define three contact points 45. Three points ofstop-to-rim contact as in FIG. 37 will, by definition, always lie in thesame plane. In an embodiment in which four points of contact areutilized as in FIG. 36, care must be taken in the selection of stops andtheir placement on the nested items that the points of stop-to-rimcontact will lie substantially in the same plane. Preferably, the planeof the stop-to-rim contacts is parallel to the plane of the item's baseand also to the plane of the item's rim, so the item is supported on therim by the stops in a straightly upstanding position, which willminimize the chance of contact between the walls, rim, bases, and anyattached handles of the items. In this manner the cookware items arestacked in a stable configuration as disclosed herein withoutinterlocking of handles, stops, rims, or other elements of items in thestack.

According to the subject technology a handle may be attached to the walland/or rim of a nested item. The handle may be positioned above a stop.Alternatively, a stop and a handle may be combined into a single parthaving both functions. However, it should be understood that a stopaccording to the subject technology need not be functional as a handle,for example, it may be relatively thin and not extend far enough fromthe wall of the cookware item to be of any practical use as a handle. Itneed only extend far enough from the wall to enable contact of itsdownward projection or projections with the rim of the lower item in thestack. In this aspect of the subject technology, the stop has athickness such that it does not extend beyond the outer diameter of thelower cookware item, measured at the rim of the lower cookware item; orextends beyond it by less than 1 cm; or extends beyond it by less than0.5 cm; or extends beyond it by less than 0.25 cm; or extends beyond itby less than 0.1 cm.

According to a further non-limiting embodiment of the subjecttechnology, not shown in the Figures, a cookware item is provided withthree stops attached to its outer surface, each of the three stops beingconfigured to contact the rim of the lower item at exactly one point(e.g., having any of the shapes shown in FIG. 39, for example).Preferably, the three stops are evenly spaced around sides of thecookware item. A handle or handles may be attached above one or more ofthe stops.

It will also be understood that the ornamental appearance of stackablecookware as shown and described is within the scope of the subjecttechnology.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles. It will also beunderstood that the present invention includes any combination of thefeatures and elements disclosed herein and any combination of equivalentfeatures. The exemplary embodiments shown herein are presented for thepurposes of illustration only and are not meant to limit the scope ofthe invention.

1. A cookware set of stackable and nestable cookware items comprising: a first cookware item comprising a first base, a first wall rising from the first base and integral with the first base, a first rim at the top of the first wall and integral with the first wall, a first stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall, and a second stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall; a second cookware item comprising a second base, a second wall rising from the second base and integral with the second base, a second rim at the top of the second wall and integral with the second wall; the first cookware item stacked on and nested within the second cookware item, provided that the first base and first wall are not contacting the second base or second wall; the first stop directly contacting the second rim at exactly two contact points, and the second stop directly contacting the second rim at exactly one or exactly two contact points, so that the first cookware item is supported directly on the second rim at the contact points in a stacked and nested position in the second cookware item; and wherein the first stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly two contact points and the second stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly one or exactly two contact points; and wherein the first stop has a left end and a right end spaced apart from the left end, the exactly two contact points of the first stop disposed and spaced apart on the left end and the right end.
 2. The cookware set of claim 1 wherein the first stop and second stop are on opposite sides of the first cookware item.
 3. The cookware set of claim 1 wherein the first stop or the second stop has a height in a direction from the first base to the first rim, and a width greater than the height.
 4. The cookware set of claim 1 wherein all of the contact points lie in the same plane.
 5. The cookware set of claim 1 wherein the first cookware item has a first handle attached to the first wall and extending outwardly from the first wall.
 6. The cookware set of claim 5 wherein the first handle is adjacent to and above the first stop or second stop and is not integral with said stop.
 7. The cookware set of claim 5 wherein the first handle is integrally part of the first stop or second stop.
 8. A stackable cookware item adapted to be nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, the stackable cookware item comprising a first base, a first wall rising from the first base and integral with the first base, a first rim at the top of the first wall and integral with the first wall, a first stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall, and a second stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall, the first stop adapted to directly contact a rim of the second cookware item at exactly two contact points, and the second stop adapted to directly contact the rim of the second cookware item at exactly one or exactly two contact points, so that the first cookware item is supported directly on the rim of the second cookware item at the contact points in a stacked and nested position in the second cookware item so that that the first base and first wall are not contacting the second cookware item; and wherein the first stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly two contact points and the second stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly one or exactly two contact points; and wherein the first stop has a left end and a right end spaced apart from the left end, the exactly two contact points of the first stop disposed and spaced apart on the left end and the right end.
 9. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein the first stop and second stop are on opposite sides of the stackable cookware item.
 10. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein the first stop or the second stop has a height in a direction from the first base to the first rim, and a width greater than the height.
 11. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein all of the contact points lie in the same plane.
 12. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein the stackable cookware item has a first handle attached to the first wall and extending outwardly from the first wall.
 13. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein the first handle is adjacent to and above the first stop or second stop and is not integral with said stop.
 14. The stackable cookware item of claim 8 wherein the first handle is integrally part of the first stop or second stop.
 15. In a cookware set consisting of a first cookware item having an outer wall and a second cookware item having a rim, the first cookware item being sized and shape to nest within the second cookware item, the improvement comprising: a first stop and a second stop attached to the outer wall of the first cookware item, the first stop adapted to directly contact the rim of the second cookware item at exactly two contact points, and the second stop adapted to directly contact the rim of the second cookware item at exactly one or exactly two contact points, so that the first cookware item is supported directly on the rim of the second cookware item at the contact points in a stacked and nested position in the second cookware item, wherein the first stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly two contact points and the second stop has a lower edge having a non-linear profile which defines the exactly one or exactly two contact points; and wherein the first stop has a left end and a right end spaced apart from the left end, the exactly two contact points of the first stop disposed and spaced apart on the left end and the right end.
 16. The improvement of claim 15 wherein the first stop and second stop are on opposite sides of the stackable cookware item.
 17. The improvement of claim 15 wherein the first stop or the second stop has a height in the direction from the first base to the first rim, and a width greater than the height.
 18. The cookware set of stackable and nestable cookware items of claim 15 wherein a first gap is defined between the first stop and the second rim, the first gap extending between the exactly two points of contact.
 19. A first cookware item adapted to be nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, the first cookware item comprising: a first stop and a second stop, both stops disposed on an outer wall of the first cookware item and disposed to rest on a rim of the second cookware item and support the first cookware item in a nested and stacked position on the second cookware item, the first stop having a lower edge with a non-linear profile configured configures to contact the rim at exactly two contact points when the first cookware item is nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, and the second stop having a lower edge configured to contact the rim when the first cookware item is nested within and stacked on a second cookware item.
 20. The first cookware item of claim 19 wherein an outwardly extending handle is integrally formed with the first stop or the second stop.
 21. The first cookware item of claim 19 wherein the lower edge of the second stop defines exactly one or exactly two points of contact with the rim.
 22. A first cookware item adapted to be nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, the first cookware item comprising: a first stop and a second stop, both stops disposed on an outer wall of the first cookware item and disposed to rest on a rim of the second cookware item and support the first cookware item in a nested and stacked position on the second cookware item, the first stop having a lower edge with a non-linear profile configured to contact the rim at exactly two contact points when the first cookware item is nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, and the second stop having a lower edge configured to contact the rim when the first cookware item is nested within and stacked on a second cookware item.
 23. A stackable cookware item adapted to be nested within and stacked on a second cookware item, the stackable cookware item comprising: a first base; a first wall rising from the first base; a first rim at the top of the first wall; a first stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall; and a second stop connected to an exterior of the first wall between the first base and the first rim and extending outwardly from the first wall; the first stop and second stop adapted and positioned on the first wall to directly contact the rim of the second cookware item, so that the first cookware item is supported directly on the rim of the second cookware item by the first stop and second stop in a stacked and nested position in the second cookware item so that that the first base and first wall are not contacting the second cookware item; and the first stop comprising a handle extending outwardly from the first stop.
 24. The stackable cookware item of claim 23 wherein the first stop and second stop are on opposite sides of the stackable cookware item.
 25. The stackable cookware item of claim 23 wherein the first stop or the second stop has a height in a direction from the first base to the first rim, and a width greater than the height. 